In efforts to combat Malaria, Kenya’s Ministry of Health (MoH) has implemented Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) in Busia County and Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) in Turkana County.
Kenya has intensified interventions such as the distribution of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), improved malaria case management, and the introduction of targeted prevention strategies, including IRS and SMC.
In 2014, IRS was successfully conducted in Busia and Migori Counties with support from the United States Government through the Presidential Malaria Initiative (PMI). The campaign targeted high-transmission areas, ensuring that 423,037 structures were sprayed out of 444,890 eligible structures. Coverage in Busia County reached 95.1 percent, while Migori achieved 95.0 percent, surpassing the WHO-recommended effectiveness threshold of 85 percent.
The IRS intervention provided protection to approximately two million people, with malaria incidence in Busia County declining significantly by 50 percent, dropping from 746 cases per 1,000 population in 2023 to 358 per 1,000 in 2024.
Turkana County has experienced a transition from a largely seasonal malaria burden to a more stable endemic pattern, with some regions still exhibiting seasonal peaks. Assessments by the National Malaria Control Program, the County Government of Turkana, Moi University, and Duke University revealed that over 65 percent of malaria cases occur during the rainy season. In response, the first phase of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) was implemented in Turkana County, which recorded 102,000 malaria cases in 2024, with 60 percent occurring between May and September.
The SMC initiative was launched in June 2024 with support from Catholic Relief Services (CRS). It targeted 38,585 children under five years to prevent malaria episodes during peak periods. Over the cycles, spaced 28 days apart, 71 percent (27,206 children) of the targeted population completed all five doses. The cycle-wise performance was: Cycle 1, 88 percent coverage (33,820 children); Cycle 2, 101 percent (39,229 children); Cycle 3, 95 percent (36,741 children); Cycle 4, 100 percent (38,924 children); and Cycle 5, 104 percent (40,123 children). The SMC intervention reduced malaria cases by 71 percent.
Building on this success, the second round of SMC in Turkana Central is scheduled for June 2025 and will integrate a digital campaign approach using the e-CHIS platform. Data from both the 2024 and 2025 campaigns will guide future expansion and implementation strategies to enhance malaria intervention efforts.
Malaria remains a major public health concern in Kenya, with the country reporting approximately 5.5 million cases in 2023, translating to an incidence rate of 104 cases per 1,000 population. The highest burden of malaria is concentrated in six counties: Busia, Kakamega, Kisumu, Siaya, Migori, and Vihiga, with an adjusted malaria incidence of 748 cases per 1,000 people. Additionally, Kwale, Bungoma, Homa Bay, Turkana, and West Pokot counties recorded an incidence of 474 cases per 1,000 people.
Efforts such as IRS and SMC play a crucial role in reducing malaria cases and improving public health outcomes. By leveraging targeted interventions and digital tools, the Ministry of Health aims to further enhance malaria prevention and control strategies, ensuring a healthier population in high-burden regions.
